Explosion traps 20 miners in Turkey

A methane gas explosion ripped through a coal mine in western Turkey today, bringing down a mining shaft and trapping about 20 miners.

Rescue workers could not enter the mine because of intense fires, said Kahraman Kocamis, an official from the local mayor’s office.

Two workers have been rescued.

The mine is about 19 miles from the town of Gediz in western Kutahya province.

Rescuers pulled out two workers and were trying to reach about 20 others trapped inside. Several ambulances rushed to the scene.